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[Akewstick]

I'm pondering another bat, for no reason other than I haven't had that "I've got a new bat" feeling for a while. However, I'm just about to take my bat into it's third season and it feels better than ever. Granted, my coaching is sinking in finally and I'm middling more, so it would feel better, but I'm sure the response is as good as ever, if not better.

It's first season I averaged 4 with the bat and hit under 10 balls hard out of the middle all season, so I imagine in terms of the bat being played in, it's negligible, so really it's only had a season and a bit of decent use, and even then I'm not talking dashing 50s and 100s. Is it resonable to expect my bat still to be improving as it gets used to actually being used for what it was meant to be?

Have you heard stories of bats getting a new burst of energy 3, 4, 5 years into their life? How long have you known a bat still to be going as strong as ever after years of abuse? There's a guy in his late 30s I play with who uses the bat he bought in the first year of uni and swears it goes like a trampoline, is this normal?

I did do a quick search for this topic but couldn't find anything, I'd be interested to hear any stories.

[smilley792]

Ban him now!!


Bats should be changed a minimum once a season, if not 4 times a season!!

[Buzz]

There are many topics about when a bat dies - but when a bat is at it's peak - my suggestion would be when the handle is able to break!!

[Akewstick]

There are many topics about when a bat dies - but when a bat is at it's peak - my suggestion would be when the handle is able to break!!

The handle did break last season and I got a new one put in.

I did wonder if it's recent good performance was down to the new one losing a bit of it's stiffness.

[well past my peak]

Generally for me the bat seems to peak for a half a dozen games before it's sad end, crack in shoulder or handle. For me I'm lucky to get two full seasons out of my match bat. I do tend to use light bats and deal in boundaries so I guess its pretty fair.
I try to prolong its life with the use of tape and glue while its peaking. I always have a few bats at different stages of life ready to "move up the order".

[Cover_Drive]

In my eyes, the bat peaks when you see grains cracking. They become wider, there are cracks along them and they become more prominent (darker).

In my eyes, bat would really end when it breaks after that. I have seen decades old Slazenger at my older club in traditional shape still responding better than some of my newer bats.

[WalkingWicket37]

There are many topics about when a bat dies - but when a bat is at it's peak - my suggestion would be when the handle is able to break!!

Has anyone on here ever kept and used a bat long enough for it to die?
I can think of hundreds of new bat threads (and not just my own!) but cannot recall ever seeing a thread about a bat on here that was used until it gave up

[procricket]

1271 have pictures of it Cam,

I think there at there best when i'm in form and hitting the ball well.

I never blame a bat too me there all similar just the pick up and balance is key most bats after half a season perform the same.

Tend to change bats when they break try loads do not get me wrong but stick to one until it dies...

Good point though most do not use the same bat week to week i guess on here.

[Gurujames]

In my experience they keep getting better until either
1. The handle breaks
2. They becomes so delaminated that they sound broken with every hit.
This in my personal experience is around 5000 runs for the bats I have owned.

[duelist83]

I purchased a G2 D&P PPP from Cape Town in 2008/9 and I still use it. It is by far the best bat I have ever used. I did start to feel it starting to lose a bit of ping the year before last after I had it refurbed so replaced it with a G1 H4L last year. I think it depends on the bat you select. Sometimes you can pick the right one that just works well and sometimes you can be unlucky to choose one where the willow just simply gives up after a season or 2. I recon it's got a lot to do with the pressing stage of the bat.

My opinion anyway... 

[TangoWhiskey]

The problem with this type of question is that all the evidence is purely anecdotal and nearly impossible to test properly. So many variances, even including the condition of the ball.

[brokenbat]

There is actually a lot of good science behind this...generally a bat will improve and get better as your prepare it, oil it, knock it in, and show it off to teammates. Shortly after that, you log back on to this forum, and start looking at pics of other bats, and your bat will instantly start deteriorating. Not long after that, you are forced to buy a replacement.
Again, all of the above, is science.

[abdulwq]

This made me laugh but its very true.
Haven been in the boat of having 1 super bat which lasted three seasons with lots of runs. Could not find a better one but now after buying 5 bats since last year and knocking them seems i have good 3 match bats.

There is actually a lot of good science behind this...generally a bat will improve and get better as your prepare it, oil it, knock it in, and show it off to teammates. Shortly after that, you log back on to this forum, and start looking at pics of other bats, and your bat will instantly start deteriorating. Not long after that, you are forced to buy a replacement.
Again, all of the above, is science.